Chiropractic table

ABSTRACT

An elongated bench-type support upon which a patient to receive spinal or other body adjustments may be disposed in a horizontal face downward position. One end of the support includes a centrally disposed elongated opening extending longitudinally of the support and spaced slightly from the terminal end thereof. Further, the end of the table in which the opening is formed has opposite side horizontally disposed and longitudinally extending armrests supported therefrom at a level spaced approximately eight inches below the upper surface portion of the support through which the opening is formed. Still further, the support includes a raised or humped central portion whose longitudinal center is approximately two-fifths of the length of the table or support from the end portion thereof in which the aforementioned opening is formed and the support or table is provided with depending corner leg portions for supporting the table approximately one foot above the surface from which it is supported.

United States Patent 1 Benson 1 1 CHIROPRACTIC TABLE [76] Inventor? John s. Benson, 335 w. Main St., P.

O. Box 81, Hamilton, Mont. 59840 21 AppllNo; 163,772 1 [52] US. Cl 269/322, 5/91, 128/70,

269/328 [51] Int. Cl A6lg 13/00 [58] Field of Search 269/322, 328;

[5 6] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,266,061 8/1966 Fuechsel 5/60 3,042,025 7/1962 Jackson 128/70 X [11] 3,747,916 [451 July 24, 1973 Primary Examiner-Robert C. Riordon Assistant Examiner-Joseph T. Zatarga Attorney-Clarence A. O'Brien et a1.

[57] ABSTRACT An elongated bench-type support upon which a patient to receive spinal or other body adjustments may be disposed in a horizontal face downward position. One end of the support includes a centrally disposed elongated opening extending longitudinally of the support and spaced slightly from the terminal end thereof. Further, the end of the table in which the opening is formed has opposite side horizontally disposed and longitudinally extending armrests supported therefrom at a level spaced approximately eight inches below the upper surface portion of the support through which the opening is formed. Still further, the support includes a raised or humped central portion whose longitudinal center is approximately two-fifths of the length of the table or support from the end portion thereof in which the aforementioned opening is formed and the support or table is provided with depending corner leg portions for supporting the table approximately one foot above the surface from which it is supported.

2 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures CHIROPRACTIC TABLE The table or support of the instant invention has been specifically designed to enable a practicing chiropractor to make many body adjustments, including full back adjustments, on a patient with the patient supported in a face downward reclining position with his abdomen elevated above the rest of his body so that the necessary body adjustments may be made with maximum comfort enjoyed by the patient.

The table comprises a framework over whose upper portion an upholstered mattress-type pad is secured and the upper surface of the pad defines the upper surface of the table with the opening formed in one end portion of the table opening upwardly through the pad and the edges of the upholstered pad defining the opening being radiused.

In order that electrical equipment of any type such as that utilized for analytic, diagnostic and physiotherapy purposes will in no way be interfered with and there will be no chance of current flowing between such electrical equipment and the bench or table, the table includes no exposed conductive structural members. Also, the table includes nomoving parts and therefore it is assured that a patient disposed on the table may lie in absolute stationary position thereon.

The main object of this invention is to provide a chiropractic table upon which patients to have body adjustments made may be disposed in confort and in a manner presenting their bodies for ease in adjustments thereto by a chiropractor.

Another object of this invention is to provide a table in accordance with the preceding object and including no moving parts thereby ensuring that the patient disposed thereon may remain in absolute stationary position, when desired.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a chiropractic table including no conductive structural members exposed for contact by the patient or adjacent chiropractor.

A final object of this invention to be specifically enumerated herein is to provide a chiropractic table which will conform to conventional forms of manufacture, be of simple construction and easy to use so as to provide a device that will be economically feasible, long lasting and trouble free in operation.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the table;

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 2-2 of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is a transverse vertical sectional view taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 3--3 of FIG. 2.

Referring now more specifically to the drawings the numeral generally designates the table of the instant invention. The table 10 includes a generally rectangular frame 12 consisting of a pair of opposite side longitudinal members 14 and a pair of opposite end transversely extending members 16. The transverse members 16 are secured between corresponding ends of the longitudinal members 14 and the corner portions of the frame 12 have the upper ends 18 of four depending legs 20 secured therein by means of suitable fasteners 22 in a manner with the upper ends 18 serving to brace the four corner portions of the frame 12. Further, the legs 20 include upwardly and outwardly opening notches 24 in which the opposite end portions of the transverse members 16 are seated.

A plurality of longitudinally spaced transverse members 26 and 28 extend between and are secured to corresponding upper surface portions of the longitudinal members 12 in any convenient manner. The transverse members 26 are disposed at the opposite ends of the frame 12 and the transverse members 28 are spaced along the frame 12 from the foot end thereof toward the head end. However, a transverse member 30 is disposed adjacent the head end of the table 10 and defines the rearmost extremity of a vertical opening 32 formed through the table 10. The forward extremity of the opening 32 is defined by the transverse member 26 at the head end of the table 10 and partial transverse members 34 are secured to the longitudinal members 14 and project approximately one third of the distance therefrom toward the opposite longitudinal members 14 and the inner ends of the transverse members 34 terminate a spaced distance from the opposite side portions of the opening 32.

An elevating block 36 is secured over three of the transverse members 28 and is positioned approximately two fifths of the distance from the head end of the table to the foot end thereof. Further, an upholstered cushion or pad member 38 overlies the transverse members 26, 28, 30 and 34 and has a void therein which defines the opening 32, the sheet or panel 40 of upholstery being secured over the pad member 38 with its peripheral edge portions secured to the underside surfaces of the members 14 and 16 defining the frame 12. Further, suitable piping 42 is utilized to secure the depending skirt portions of the upholstery panel 40 to the upper marginal portions of the frame members 14 and 16.

The opposite side portions of the frame 12 include outwardly projecting longitudinally extending and horizontally disposed armrests 44 and the armrests 44 are padded as at 46 and also covered by upholstery. The upper surfaces of the armrests 44 are disposed approximately 8 inches below the upper surface of the panel member 38, and the armrests 44 are spaced approximately the same distance from the head end of the table 10 as the opening 32.

In operation, a patient to have body adjustments made is positioned on the upholstered panel member 38 in a face downward position with his face received in the upper extremity of the opening 32 and the raised portion of the panel member 38 passing over the block 36 beneath the patientsabdomen. The arms of the patient may be disposed on the armrests 44 and the patient may therefore retain himself stationary in a comfortable position while a chiropractor makes body adjustments to his person.

The various dimensions of the table 10 may, of course, vary according to the size of the persons to haveadjustments made to their bodies. The elevation of the central portion of the table effected by the elevating block 36 as well as the length and width of the table will vary, in proportion, depending whether a child or an adult is to be placed on the table.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A chiropractic table including a low legged frame having a thick cushion or panel member of corresponding plan shape disposed thereover, one end of said panel member defining the head end of the table and the other end thereof defining the foot end, said head end of said panel member and said frame having a vertically extending narrow opening formed therethrough with the opening being horizontally elongated longitudinally of the panel member and spaced slightly from the terminal end of said head end of said table, said frame including a rigid stationary transversely extending raised portion over which said panel member is disposed and contoured, said raised portion being spaced approximately two fifths of the length of said table from the head end thereof to the foot end thereof, the edges of said panel member defining the upper extremities of said opening being radiused, said table including opposite side outwardly projecting generally horizontal and longitudinally extending armrests supported from the outer side surfaces of opposite side portions of said frame and disposed approximately eight inches below the upper surface of said panel member, said armrests being spaced generally the same distance from the head end of said table as said opening, said frame being of rectangular configuration and including opposite side longitudinal members innerconnected at their opposite ends by means of opposite end transverse members, the four corner portions of said frame including depending legs having upper end portions seated in the inside corners of said frame with each leg secured to the corresponding longitudinal and transverse members, said legs further including upwardly and outwardly opening notches in their upper ends in which the opposite end portions of said transverse members are seated, said legs being of sufficient length to elevate said frame approximately one foot above the surface upon which the lower ends of said legs rest, said table being free of exposed conductive structural members and parts shiftable relative to each other during normal usage of the table.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said panel member is covered with an upholstery panel extending downwardly into the upper end of said opening. 

1. A chiropractic table including a low legged frame having a thick cushion or panel member of corresponding plan shape disposed thereover, one end of said panel member defining the head end of the table and the other end thereof defining the foot end, said head end of said panel member and said frame having a vertically extending narrow opening formed therethrough with the opening being horizontally elongated longitudinally of the panel member and spaced slightly from the terminal end of said head end of said table, said frame including a rigid stationary transversely extending raised portion over which said panel member is disposed and contoured, said raised portion being spaced approximately two fifths of the length of said table from the head end thereof to the foot end thereof, the edges of said panel member defining the upper extremities of said opening being radiused, said table including opposite side outwardly projecting generally horizontal and longitudinally extending armrests supported from the outer side surfaces of opposite side portions of said frame and disposed approximately eight inches below the upper surface of said panel member, said armrests being spaced generally the same distance from the head end of said table as said opening, said frame being of rectangular configuration and including opposite side longitudinal members innerconnected at their opposite ends by means of opposite end transverse members, the four corner portions of said frame including depending legs having upper end portions seated in the inside corners of said frame with each leg secured to the corresponding longitudinal and transverse members, said legs further including upwardly and outwardly opening notches in their upper ends in which the opposite end portions of said transverse members are seated, said legs being of sufficient length to elevate said frame approximately one foot above the surface upon which the lower ends of said legs rest, said table being free of exposed conductive structural members and parts shiftable relative to each other during normal usage of the table.
 2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said panel member is covered with an upholstery panel extending downwardly into the upper end of said opening. 